News & Stories

For over 30 years, Mei has been the gentle heartbeat of the HKUST campus. Her warm presence at the China Garden, the University’s Chinese restaurant, has touched and rippled through generations of HKUSTers. While daily tasks like greeting diners, preparing ingredients, and brewing tea may appear routine, for Mei, they have evolved into meaningful connections with the students, staff, and alumni who define this university community. As one of the earliest staff members at this restaurant on campus, Mei has witnessed HKUST transform into the remarkable institution it is today. Through her dedication, she is so much more than just a hard-working staff, she is a true “community builder” in every sense—someone who has contributed to cultivating the vibrant and welcoming spirit that unites the HKUST family.

Imagine a hiker collapsing from heatstroke on a remote trail in Sai Kung. In the past, help could take an agonizing hour, but now, thanks to a groundbreaking drone delivery system being pioneered in Hong Kong, life-saving medical supplies can arrive in just minutes. This isn’t just a vision of the future; it’s a reality unfolding before our eyes. Cities worldwide are embracing drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and advanced air mobility (AAM) systems to enhance urban mobility, logistics, emergency response, and even entertainment, such as stunning drone shows. In Mainland China, the low-altitude economy (LAE) is projected to reach a staggering 2 trillion yuan by 2030, signalling a transformative shift in everyday life.

As the founding President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Prof. Chia-Wei WOO, once remarked: “Hands on the present, and eyes for the future.” This philosophy has guided us in leveraging our past achievements to pave the way towards a brighter and more innovative future for humanity. To celebrate and highlight our journey of innovation, we invite you to explore Innovators in Action (創新先行者), our new TV program series. Broadcasted on TVB at prime time, all five episodes are now available online and will be shared on the University’s social media channels, showcasing unique aspects of HKUST’s commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation:

Academic-entrepreneur Professor KO Ping-Keung came to HKUST in 1993 as Visiting Professor in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering after working at the University of California, Berkeley, as Director of the Microfabrication Laboratory from 1984-1993, and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from 1991-1993. He served as Dean of the HKUST School of Engineering from 1995-2000 and in 2002 received the prestigious IEEE Solid-State Circuits Award. He has since become an innovator and angel investor in China’s chip industry and is a Professor Emeritus at HKUST. In 2024, Prof. Ko was awarded a HKUST Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his long-standing service and commitment to the University’s development.

Standing at the intersection of technology and healthcare, the three visionary HKUST alumni—Dr. Kyle WONG, Dr. Nick CHIN, and Teric CHAN—never underestimate the power of their school-day dreams to safeguard the health of their fellow citizens. With unwavering dedication and innovative spirit, they have poured their hearts and souls into their inventions over the past five years, ultimately giving rise to the world’s first mobile app for contactless pulse rate measurement cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2024. That same year, Kyle and Teric were named on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in the healthcare and science category, gaining global recognition as rising entrepreneurs.

Landslides, flash floods, and fallen trees—these are just some of the alarming sights accompanying the summer typhoon seasons in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, the city has witnessed a distressing surge in extreme rainfall, characterized by intensity levels that surpass the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal. This trend serves as a stark reminder of the growing impact of global warming on our daily lives and safety. The question resonates: how can we better prepare for nature’s fury in the future?

Prof. Philip CHAN Ching-Ho joined the School of Engineering in 1991 as a founding member. He served as Head of the School of Engineering’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department from 1995-2002 and Dean of the School from 2003-09. He was Director of the Nanosystem Fabrication Facility from 1997-2003. From 2010-20, he held the positions of Deputy President and Provost at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He became Professor Emeritus in HKUST’s Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering in 2010.

 For centuries, the spirit of innovation has been at the very heart of human civilization and modernization. In the modern age of artificial intelligence (AI), this spirit fundamentally reshapes our lives with groundbreaking products and services, such as digital banks that bring immense convenience and personalization in our financial routines.